I'll admit that it's not my typical cinema fare (no explosions or giant robot monsters) but I needed to watch it so I could vote on it for the SAG awards coming up. I am happy to report is my favorite movie this year. Granted, there is still a few days left in the year and several films that I haven't seen yet, but this movie was awesome in it's direction, performance, and message.

I agree with Alex on the movie thoughts and on Tanya's addition to the fan contributions. What an amazing gift to be able to "fly"! When we think of ATP, we can think of you, Tanya:)

I’d earlier emailed the following links, which I thought you’d enjoy, to those forum friends I have addresses for. I’m putting them here for Tim and everyone else who might be checking in to the forum over the holidays. A time when many of us get out to the theatre to see the new Christmas movie launches, or have more time to enjoy the traditional Christmas flicks.

First, (shades of “It’s a Wonderful Life”) a great set of movie quotes on friendship at this Beliefnet link:http://www.beliefnet.com/Entertainment/Movies/2010/02/Friendship-Movie- Quotes.aspx?source=NEWSLETTER&nlsource=55&ppc=&utm_campaign=Entertainment&utm_source=NL&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_term=dmci.net

And then, from film director Stephen Simon, news of a new movement afoot. To bring back the old Hollywood! He has written a book about it. You may recall me talking way back when about his book “The Force is With You” about spiritual cinema type films. Here’s the link:

Amazing that Chris posted this about The King’s Speech and the comments here seem to go along with the message. Look forward to the King’s Speech…I’d been wondering about it; so thanks for the nudge to go see it. We saw Voyage of the Dawn Treader last weekend, celebrating my sister’s birthday with family.Really enjoyed slipping back into the Narnia dreamworld for a couple of hours.

And, as for Christmas movies, I’d not seen Elf. So, up late last night, I started watching, later realizing I was being mesmerized by Will Ferrell’s role. Is it my imagination, or does he remind us of someone we know? Do I dare say on the forum that I kept picturing that person in that role? And, of course, then I laughed even harder. What a fun movie if both of them were in a comedy together and it wasn’t my imagination!

As the 12 days of Christmas wind down, keep yourselves leaping and dancing, and having fun along the way into the New Year and the new decade….ATB to everyone...Sue

I hope the holidays are finding you all well! Good to hear from you Alex and thank you, Sue can always keep us leaping and dancing, Chris, thanks for the movies reference, not my type of movie, but on your word I will go see it.

I haven't seen "The King's Speech" yet but have heard good things about it and Chris' stamp of approval just solidified my belief that I need to see it sooner and not later.

I haven't gotten in many movies during the holidays myself, but I did catch "The Fighter." Not a bad film at all and it's based on a true story so if you like boxing movies at all I'd suggest you go see it (though it's really about much more than boxing).

Here's to a great 2011 - I hope everyone is successful with whatever resolution s/he sets. Go get life as our host says...

Dave, I was listening to Jack Canfield motivational talk today, and he said go see The Fighter and The Kings' Speech:) He said the same thing you did about The Fighter and Chris' thoughts about The Kings Speech. And Happy All Things Possible to everyone this January,and All Things Beautiful and time to add All Things Dreamable!:) SuePS Tim and Tanya...great posts:)

Hello everyone,While it's only 50 minutes long, and no doubt filmed with student field trips in mind, we finally went to see Hubble at the IMAX with our son today. Wondering if any of you have seen it and what you thought. And if you haven't, it is awesome, and the minutes flew by. I recall how I felt when I first saw the photos of the earth from space (most of you are too young to remember that!) and this added a very expansive level of perception for me of our place in the universe. Ha...very small! But, appreciating this very cozy little world in the vastness of it all. Maybe a blog will come of it:) Halfway through January, wish everyone a blessed rest of winter of the best of possibilities. Sue

Tanya, you are right. Too quiet. Trust that means all's well with everyone.

Facebook folks are wishing Ute a happy birthday as I write this, so here's best ATB/P wishes to Ute for a wonderful birthday year and many beautiful adventures (to share here, of course:). Ute, it's been great knowing you on the forum for, my gosh, 5+ years now? Where has all the time gone? And we're all that much older, but, also better!

Yes, the Hubble movie is amazing. I just heard a news note last night about something new discovered because of it, and intended to check it out. It was short, but sweet! And the impact astounding.

And, hope you and everyone got to see The King's Speech. The beautiful acting kept me glued to my seat. Another ATP story, that Chris rightly described regarding our friendships, teachers, mentors...all the amazing people who help us be the best we can be.I'm scrambling for words to describe, but hope to somehow in a blog. Hope you all go see, and come back to chime in...Oscars many I hope!

Your "Come fly with me" theme is wonderful for that movie, Tanya. Putting your trust in someone, and the amazing results of flying with them, simply because they believed in you and your potential, and because of that mutual trust, you come to believe in yourself, and together leaving a legacy for the world. Just a beautiful theme.

OK, I guess you can tell I can't say enough about the movie. So go see, and enjoy:) Sue

I haven't seen "King's Speech" yet but hope to this coming weekend. I did see a couple other great movies recently though - "The Fighter" and "True Grit." I wasn't sure if I would like "Grit" since I'm a fan of the Duke and the first film, but I thought this version was very good. And when you compare the two films they are a great study in the differences in film making from 1969 until today. The scripts aren't that different but everything else sure is. So much so that I'm reading the book now to see which one is more faithful to the book.

Good to see that everyone else has had a great New Year so far - here's to making it even better!

Dave and Alex, good to see your posts. Heard The Fighter is good, but am glad we saw King's Speech. I think you'll like it. Look forward to your take on it...beyond my "gushing" over it! My brother, the Western fanatic one, thought he liked the old one better of True Grit. My husband will want to see both of those movies. Thanks for the recommendations. Are you going to mention about your new theatre projects? Going to see Oedipus in the round, really, at Williamston this week. Should be interesting. It's intimate enough as it is. So, I'd better be on my best behavior!Since it seems they like to involve the audience more all the time. ATB, all, and soon we'll have Oscar announcements to hash over!Sue

Tanya, thanks for the kind words:) Hopefully, it is beautiful weather where you are flying!

Dave and Tim, looks like our lucky streak is up for winter weather. Take care and be safe this week, as the big monster storm is expected go impact us this time Tues-Wed.

Alex, too, you might enjoy thishttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u462ZLrS2g0link to Spencer Adkins "Weather Blender Blog"... He is a weatherman in Huntingon, WV and his parents are longtime friends of ours, we met when we were first married here in Michigan. So we go way back. Had lost track a few years, but reconnected last fall, and then I found Spencer as they said he's on Facebook. Of course, he starts out in L.A. where all our weather comes from, right?

I'm sure our daughter is glad to be in CA now, and not on the east coast this winter.

I finally saw "The King's Speech" this past weekend. Nothing like a Saturday matinee to help break the mid-winter "blahs" is there? Anyway, I'm with Chris and this is an amazing film. Just looking at the description you have to think that it would be pretty dry and dull - but not only does it show how strong friendship can be and how it can occur even in the most unlikely of circumstances, but it provides, to me at least, a new understanding of the pressure the "royals" are under and of what so many people went through during WWII (in a way we Americans cannot appreciate fully in my opinion since our homes were not bombed during the war).

Saw your email come in, Dave. And have to tell you I was waiting to see what you'd say. Go ahead and gush! This is certainly the place for it. If you listen to National Public Radio, you may have heard Terri Gross interview the screenwriter. Just listening to that makes me want to see it again. May I quote you in my blog I need to hurry up and "gush" with? I was going to look up the link to that interview.

I could use a couple more comments about the movie (hint, hint) anyone out there? Well, I hope when I go back to check my email, that the person who nudged us to go see the movie will post an update:)

Be safe in the storm Dave, Tim and anyone else in its path...ATB/P/Sue

Sue/Dave, this storm is everything they say it is. I just came wandering in from the barns. White out conditions and it is just starting. I had to shovel a drift by the back door on my way down and by the time I got back, I had to shovel it again so I could get back in the house. 24 inches expected with possible 5 foot plus drifts. The winds are something else at the moment. Worst part is I have one horse down there that doesn't want to come in so he is standing out all covered in snow. I am going to leave him out there for now and go down in a bit after he has thought about it for a while and see if we can't come to some sort of agreement. If not, I think it is going to be a very long night....for him. Stay safe

Tim, thanks for the post, and the heads up. Hope your horse decided to come in. Look forward to an update. As for horses, think I forgot to tell you my Zenyatta/Secretariat/Seabiscuit blog was one of most read on LivingstonTalk last year. That was amazing and all thanks to you and Chris inspiration. ATB/P/Sue

OK...post #2 to blog owner and to Tim. Our weather guys said Thundersnow going on in Chicago. And possibly conditions could be for that here. Hope all is well. Surely your horse elected to come in. Heard the winds are wild there, as well, and temps. Hope the dogs are fine, too:)

OK, An update. We survived. I'll pick up where I left off. I fought my way back to the barns at 8 pm to see if the horse had come to his senses...he had not. As he had no intention of allowing me to catch him, I opted for an old fashion method of capture...I roped him. Then I lead him up into the barn, locked him in and went back to the house. We endured sustained 60 mph winds most of the night. At 6 am the next morning, I looked out the back door and could only see out of the top two inches of the window. This was not good. Went to the sliding glass doors and things were much better there...only waist high. I had brought the shovel into the house so was able to shovel my way out. I could not use the normal path to get to the barns as the drifts went into my arm pits in places. I ended up walking down the road where it was only knee deep. The barns were snowed in. 8 hours and many sore muscles later, I had plowed, dug or cursed the snow enough that I had the horses out, the water troughs accessible, the path to the house clear enough to walk on. This weekend the neighbor will come and use his bobcat to move a lot of the snow that remains. Hopefully we can get this done before the next snow they say is on the way next week. And I live here why????

Tim, thanks for the update. I've heard of Thundersnow, but not sure if I've heard it. I guess I'd remember;)It wasn't quite as monstrous here as there, but lots more snow, and it was windy. Love the story of your horse. Thanks for telling us, as I imagine I wasn't the only one wondering how the whole scenario unfolded. Today it was beautiful sunshine, even though cold. So it was the first time we got out. Knew yesterday, of course that the Groundhog would see his shadow side! And guess what my husband found for TV fare last night. Yep, Groundhog Day. I think he could watch that over and over and over. Does that classify it as a classic?:)

I hear tell Dave is headed up north for some theatre competition, so wish him well for that.

What, BTW, is this new storm next week? I had better pay attention!ATB forecasting to all...Sue

Sue, love the fact you brought up Ground Hog Day. Much of that movie was filmed in the town square of a town called Woodstock not too far from here. One of my client's business that I make service calls on is in the square. While they were filming, I needed to get to the business to do my work but I was stopped by the film crew. It became a battle of wills between myself and "them". In the end, I was allowed to make my call but I had to park my truck blocks away and lug all my equipment back and forth. I am not a huge fan of the movie LOL.

Tim, just saw your post. I was thinking about you this afternoon when I looked at the path my husband is trying to keep open on the way to our travel trailer so we can get out when it's time to head to Florida. Last year we left in subzero temps in the middle of the night trying to beat one of those storms coming across the south. We got nicked at the top of Georgia, but made it through. Scary. Now you say another one is coming...hmmm.What I was thinking was, that it's bad enough here,and I can't imagine what you have there. But the sun was beautiful yesterday and today!

Yes hope Dave will report back on his theatrical adventures. Once an actor, always an actor, I guess. Maybe someone else can call me on that:).

Well, now I'll have to watch G Day again to picture your area. That is fascinating that it was filmed there. We're getting lots of films being done here now, if the incentives stay in tact.

Have a great Superbowl weekend everyone, even though I'm not so much a football fan as my husband and son are. And hope the horses and dogs are cozy now:) Sue

PS I wonder if anyone else has been annoyed by a film crew. Or better yet, if someone we know has been in one of those film crews annoying people. Sorry I couldn't resist that!;) ATP of course, always!